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Amlodipine besylate is a generic prescription medication available in both 5mg and 10mg dosages. Despite its effectiveness at lowering blood pressure levels, amlodipine 10mg poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Types of Side Effects

Common aide effects of amlodipine include edema, dizziness, headaches, flushing and palpitations.

Significance

Because it is a higher dose, amlodipine 10mg causes side effects more frequently than the 5mg formulation. Approximately 4.5 to 10.8 percent of all users experience the most common side effects of amlodipine 10mg, according to FDA clinical trials published on RxList.

Features

The safety of amlodipine during pregnancy is unknown, and doctors avoid prescribing the drug for pregnant women unless there is no safe alternative to treatment. Additionally, amlodipine is not safe for use in children under the age of six and is typically prescribed at a maximum dosage of 5mg for people over the age of 65 due to its side effects.

Risks

There is a risk of angina and heart attack associated with use of amlodipine 10mg, particularly in patients with an underlying heart condition. Amlodipine also has the potential to increase blood sugar levels or decrease white blood cell or platelet counts, cautions RxList.

Considerations

If you have a history of congestive heart failure, liver disease or hypotension, it may not be safe for you to take amlodipine 10mg due to its side effects, warns the Mayo Clinic. Be sure to attend all blood pressure check appointments with your doctor while you take amlodipine 10mg, in order to ensure that you are not developing low blood pressure and are in need of a dosage decrease.

References

About the Author

Faith Davies has been writing professionally since 1996, contributing to various websites. She holds an LAH insurance license in the state of Pennsylvania and has experience as a bank branch manager and lending officer. Davies graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in art history.